Block-signal system.



n.11. a H. w. soumin.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. la. 1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTORS A TTOHNE Y mr mums persas co.. Pumpirmn wAsmNcmN. n c.

R. H. & H.^W. SOUDER.

Block slenusvsgm. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1915.

Peten/eed Feb. 13, l1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTORS Afro/mfr IIL ornicn.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed November 18, 1.915. Serial No. 62,089. i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT H. SOUDER and HOWELL W. SOUDER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Tamaqua, county of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block- Signal Systems, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to an electric block signal system for railroads, the invention being primarily intended for use on electrically operated street railways or inter-urban roads, although its application'is not limited to such use.

The invention has more particular reference to block signal systems in which `the signals are set or cleared by means of an operating current lof electricity of momentary duration.

' The invention has for an object the provision of an improved block signal system adapted to enable cars to follow one another over the block at suitablev intervals without waitingy for the entire block to clear.

A furtherobject relates to the provision of safe guards for the setting of certain signals.

Another object relates specifically to the means for preventing a car, upon leaving a block, from setting the rear signal at clear should there be a following car upon the block.y y

For further comprehension of the `invention reference will be hadto thel following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel'features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the drawings Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing one-half of the block signal system.

Fig. 2 is a similar viewV of the otherhalf.

Fig. 3 is an underside plan view of one of the instruments, embodying certain switches and their controlling magnets and herein designated as machines, Vconstituting part of the system.

Fig. 4E is a transverse section on the line 4 4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line :5 5 Fig. e.

Fig. 6 Ais an underside plan view of another machlne.

Fig. 7 1s an underside plan view of another machine.

F ig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-'8 Fig. 7. v

Fig. `9 is an enlarged detail transverse section on the line 9 9 Fig. l0.

l() isan underside plan view of another machine.

Referring; now more-particularly to Figs. l and 2, reference numeral l represents a trolley wire, the complete' block extending from 'the point markedk A' to the point marked B. yThe track rails are not shown lin the drawing as they are notl essential to a proper understandingof the invention. In the embodimentof the invention herein disclosed three through block signals, or signals showing the conditionjof the block as a whole, are providedat each end of the block, a clear signal', indicating that the -block is unoccu ied .a ermissive si nal indicating the presence of a car on the block which has entered from the end at which the signal is displayed, and a danger signal, indicating that a car is upon the block which has entered from the opposite end. These clear, permissive, and danger signals here comprise respectively a vertical bank of lights 5, a diagonalrbank 6, and a horizontal bank 7 located at Ythe end A of the block, and corresponding banks, 5'., 6 and 7 located at the end B of the block.

F In addition to the through block sig- .nals just referred tothere are provided a series of spacer signals,"located at desired intervals through the block and dividing ity linto a number of sections, by meansY of which a number of .carsv following one Vanother through the' block are kept properly spaced apart. f

As here shown these spacer signals com-` prise clear and dangerlights, lOvand l1 respectively, at end A and l0 and 1l respectively at endfB while as many of these signals as desired may be "spaced throughout the'block, the block being divided in the present instance into threefsections by the loo intermediateV clear lights 12 and 13,V and danger lights l2 and 18.

Single lights only are preferably provided in the spacer signals to avoid all chance of confusion withV the through 105 signals.

The signal lights are vpreferably controlled by magnet-operated switches whose operating current may be received from the trolley wire by Contact makers in juxtapo- 11o sition therewith and comprising at vend A a cutting in contact maker 15, and a pairof releasing contact makers 16 and 17 connected by a resistance 13, while at end B corresponding contact makers 15, 16 and 17 and resistance 18 are provided. each of the points where the lights 12 and 13 are located are provided a contact maker 19 adapted to operate where a car is going from A to B, and a second contact maker 20 which operates when a car is going from B to A. As'these contact makers are of ordinary construction and the manner in which a momentary flow of current there` through is caused by the bridging action of the trolley Wheel is well known, detail illustration or description thereof is not deemed necessary.

For the sake of convenience the switches which operate together and their controlling magnets are grouped together, each group being designated as a machine At each end of the block there are three of these machines, those at end A being designated in the drawing as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, the corresponding machines at the opposite end being designated as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Located adjacent each of the intermediate signals 12, 13 is a machine designated as No. 4.

Machines No. 1 and No. 1 each comprise four switches, designated as 25, 26, 27, 28 and 25, 26, 27 and 28 for the respective machines. Of these switches, 25, 23 and 25', 23 are normally open and 26, 27, 26, 27 are normally closed. In the diagrammatic illustration of the system the switches are all indicated in normal position, or that occupied when the block is clear. Switches 25 and 26 are reversed from normal position by a pair of magnets C and restored Vto normal position by a pair of magnets D.

Switches 27 and 28 are reversed from normal position by a pair of magnets E automatically returning to normal position as will be pointed out later. Similar magnets C D and E are provided on the No. 1 machine.

Machines No. 2 and No.2 each comprise live switches designated as 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 for the respective machines. Of these 31, 33 and 31, 33 are normally open and the remaining ones closed.4 Switches 30,v 31 and 32 are operated in unison by a pair of magnets H and switches 33 and 34 by a pair of magnets J, these switches automatically returning to normal position. Machine No. 2 is provided with similar magnets H and J.

Machines No. 3 and No. 3 each comprise four switches 35, 36, 37, 38, and 35, 36,

37, and 38 for the respective machines. Of these 35, 36, 35 and 36 are `normally open and the others normally closed. Switches 35, 36, 37, 33 are reversed from 41, 42, and 43 are restored to normal position by the magnets N.

The arrangement of the switches and their controlling devices in the diiierent machines is indicated in Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive. The switches are all alike, being of the oneway type with a pair of contacts 50 and 5l and a bridge piece 52, these contacts each. having a spring pressed member 50 normally acting to throw the switch to open position. In general these bridge pieces and the armatures 53 of the operating magnets are carried upon arms 54 iiXed to rockshafts 55 suitably mounted in the bearings 56 on an insulating base 57 on which the various magnets are mounted in any suitable manner. The bridge pieces 52 bear upwardly against the contacts 50 and 51 and the parts are so weighted as to be retained in normal position by gravity.

The locking mechanism for switches 25 and 26 of machine No. 1 and the corresponding switches of machine No. 1 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5 and comprises a detent arm 60 fixed to shaft 55 and adapted to engage in a notch 61 in one end ot' a bellcrank lever 62 pivoted as at 63 to the base 57 and having the armature 64 of the release magnets D mounted on its opposite end. When the switches are reversed from normal position by the Voperating magnets the arm 60 rides over the end of the bellcrank lever and engages in the notch 61 causing the switches to remain in reversed position until the release magnet is energized, releasing arm 60 and yallowing the switches to return by gravity to normal position. Machine No. 2 has no locking mechanism. The locking mechanism of the No. 3, 3 and 4 machines is in the main similar to that of the No. 1 machine, comprising an arm 60 fixed to shaft 55 and having a toe 65 adapted to engagein a notch 61 in a bellrock-shaft 55 is provided and has the arm 54 which carries the armature 53 of the operating magnets M fixed thereto, this shaft having a fixed arm 70 projecting under a counterweighted arm 71 fixed to shaft 55. The locking mechanism just described is applied to shaft 55, to which are secured the bridge pieces of switches 40, 41, 42 and 43, while shaft 55 has secured thereto the bridge pieces of switches 44 and 45. It follows then that switches 40, 41, 42 and 43 are locked in reversed position but switches 44 and 45 are open only while the operating magnets are energized. The different machines may be provided with suitable binding posts, (not shown) for the electrical connections.

In the wiring of the system two lines o'r wires extend from end to end of the block. Through one of these, herein referred to as the operating line, current flows to release the different switches; while through the other line, herein referred to as the signal line, current flows to the spacing signals and to operate certain of the switches.

The operating line extends from A to B as follows: From release contact maker 17,

a wire O, in which is a resistance O, leads to switch 38 of machine No. 3. From switch 38 a wire O2 leads to switch 40 of the nearest No. 4 machine, a wire O3V leading from this switch to the switch 40 of the other No. 4 machine. From switch 40 of this second No. 4 machine, a wire O4 leads to switch 38 of the No. 3 machine. From switch 38 a wire O5 leads through resistance OG to release contact maker 17. From wire O, between resistance O and switch 38, a wireO7 leads 'through magnets D to the ground connection G, a. similar wire 08 leading from wire @5to the ground connection G at end B. It will be apparent that under normal conditions the operating line extends un,- broken from end A to end B through the different Vspacer signal machines. f

The signal line extends from one bankof danger lights to the other and is traced from end A toend B as follows: From the lights 7 a wire S leads through magnets H, to switch 34 of machine No. 2. From switch 34 a wire S2 leads to switch 26 of machine No. 1. From switch 26 a wire S3 leads to machine'No. 3 dividing into two branches, S4 and S5 respectively, which lead to switches 36 and 37. From switches 36 and 37 branches S6 and S7 lead to the lights 11 and 10 respectively, re-uniting into a single line S8 which leads in a similar manner through branches S9 and S1o to switches 41 and 42 of the first machine No.k 4. From switches 41 and 42 branches S11 and S12 lead to lights 12 and 12. Again reuniting a ,wire S13 leads similarly to switches 41 and 42 of the other machine No. 4' from which switches branches S1G and S17 lead to lights 13 and 13. Again reuniting a wire S18 leads to switches 36 and 37 of ymachine No. 3 through the branches S19 and S20. From switches 36 and 37 branches S21 and S22 lead to lights 11 and 10. Again reuniting a wire S23 leads to switch 26 of machine No. 1. From switch 26 a wire S24 leads to switch 34 of machine No. 2 and from switch 34 a wire S25 leads to the danger bank of lights 7. As each of the banks 7 and 7 is connected to the trolley wire, or other source of electricV current, by the wires 80 and 81 respectively, it will be apparent that both ends of the signal line are in feed and that normally no current will flow through it. It will also be apparent that the wiring of the Vspacing signals 10, 12, 13 and 10 .to the normally closed switches 37, 41, 41, and 37 provides a normally closed signal circuit from end to end of the block through the lights 7 and 7.A

. From the wire S connecting magnets H D 'CJ with switch 34, a branch 83 leads to switch 33, and from switch 33 a wire 84 leads to ground. Similar connections 83 and 84 are provided at end B.

Under normal conditions there is a closed circuit through the vertical kbanks of lights 5 and 5. This circuit at end A comprises a wire 85 from the trolley connection 80 to the bank 5. From here a wire 86 leads to switch 30 of machine No. 2. From switch 30 a wire 87 leads to switch 27 of machine No. 1, and from switch 27 a wire E38-leads to ground connection G. Similar connections 85, 86, 87 and 88 are provided at end B. v

The circuit through the diagonal bank of lights 6, which is normally open, comprises a wire 9() from trolley connection 8O to the bank, a wire 91 from the bank to switch 28 of machine No. 1, and a wire 92 from switch 28 to ground G. It will'be apparent that the reversal of switches 27 and 28 will cut out the'vertical bank and cut in the diagonal bank. Similar connections 90', 91 and 92 are provided at end B. Y

From the cutting in contact maker 15 a circuit through magnets C is provided which comprises a wire 95, in which is a resistance 96, leading from the contact maker to magnets C of machine No. 1 and from these magnets a wire 97 lea-ds to switch 32 of machine No. 2, and from this switch a wire 98 leads to ground. Similar connec-' tions 96', 97 and 98 are provided at end B. From wire 95 a branch 100 leads i From the leg of switch 26, before men' tioned as included in the signal line, to which wire S3 connects a wire 102 leads to switch 25. From switch 25 a wire 103 leads to magnets E and from the latter a wire 104 leads to ground. Similar connections 102, 103 and 101 are provided at end B.

From trolley connection at end A a wire 105 leads to switch 31 of machine No. 2. From switch 31 a wire 106 leads to magnets J, and from the latter a wire 1.07 leads to the leg of switch 31 to which wire S2, before mentioned, connects. Similar connec tions 105', 106 and 107 are provided at end B.

Referring now particularly to machine No. 3 the release magnets L are connected to the operating line on opposite sides ot switch 38 by wires 110 and 111 which con-` nect respectively to the wires O and O2. These magnets L have a normally open connection to ground midway of their winding through a wire 112 leading to switch 35 from which latter a wire 113 leads to ground. Similar connections 111', 112 and 113 are provided in machine No. 3 at end B.

Referring now particularly to the No. 11 machines, from' the contact makers 19 and 20 wires 115 and 116 lead through resistances, 117 and 118 respectively, to'the operating line on opposite sides of switch 110. rThese wires are bridged, between the contact makers and the resistances 117 and 118, by a third resistance 119 from the middle of which a wire 120 leads to operating magnets M and from t-he latter a wire 121 leads to ground.

Release magnets N are connected to the operating line on opposite sides of the switch 10 through the switches 41 and 15, this circuit including av pairof wire-s 122 and 123 leading from the opposite legs of switch L10 respectively to switches 14: and 415, from which switches wires, 121 and 125 respectively, lead to opposite ends of the magnet winding. Magnets N are connected to ground similarly to magnets L, L by a wire 126 leading to switch 43 from which latter a wire 127 leads to ground.

The operation of the system is as follows: 1t may be stated briefly that when a car enters the block at either end the No. 1, or 1 and 3, or 3 machines at the entrance end and the No. 2, or 2 machine at the far end are operated. When a car enters the block at end A, closing contact maker 15, magnets C are energized, current flowing through wire 95, magnets C, wire 97, switch 32, wire 98 to ground. The energizing of magnets C reverses switches 25 and 26, opening 26 and closing 25, the switches being locked in this position by the device illustrated in Fig. 5. Switch 26 being open the bank 7 is cut out of circuit while the bank 7 is connected to ground G at end A current flowing nemesi through wire S25, switch 341, wire S24, switch 26, wire S23 and along the signal line through the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 3 machines, and from the latter machine through wires S3, 102, switch 25, wire 103, magnets E, wire 10-1 to ground Gr at end A.

The energizing of magnets E reverses 'switches 27 and 28, which as above pointed vthe permissive signal 6 is dependent on the setting ot' the danger signal 7 and is a sign that the car is protected at the far end of the block by a danger signal.

r1`he danger bank of lights 7 is only momentarily in series with the magnets l1] for the current, as just pointed out, flows through magnets H of machine No. 2 causing the latter to close switch 31 and open.

switches 30 and 32. The opening of' switch 30 cuts out the vertical bank of lights 5 at end B, wire 86 leading from the latter being connected to this switch. The opening of switch 32 opens the circuit from the cutting in contact maker 15 throughmagnets C to ground, thus preventing a car, inadvertently entering the block from end B from changing the signals in any way. The closing of switch 31 establishes a circuit from the trolley connection 81 through the magnets J of machine No. 2 to the signal line through wire 105, switch 31, wire 106, magnets J and wire 107 to the leg of switch 31 to which the portion S2li of the signal line connects. rhe energizing of magnets J reverses switches 33 and 31', the closing of switch 33 connecting the bank 7 to ground at end B through wires S25, 83 and 81. As the signal line hasv previously been put in feed as just noted the magnets J of machine No. 2 and the magnets E of machine No. 1 remain energized until the current is discontinued by the action of the release contact maker as the car leaves the block. Simultaneously| with the energizing of magnets C as the car enters the block current flows from the contact maker 15 along wire 100, through magnets K of machine No. 3 and wire 101 to ground. The energizing of magnets K reverses all four switches of machine No. 3, the opening of switch 37 cutting out the clear light 10'and the closing of switch 36 illuminating the danger light 11 through wires S7 and S4 as will be apparent. rlihe opening of switch 38 to which the parts O2 of the' operating line connect, establishes a break in the operating line, while the closing of the switch 35 grounds the operating line in both directions through wires 110 and 111, release magnets L, wires 112 and 113. The purpose of this break and grounding of the operating line lwill be more fully referred to later. The switches are locked in reversed position by the `device illustrated in Fig. 9. Y Y

Upon leaving end A the car has set be hind it the through block77 permissive signal 6 and the sectional danger signal 11, indicating that there is a car in the first section of the block.

Upon reaching contact maker 19 current flows through wire 115, resistance 117, operating line O2, wire 111, one side of magnets L, wire 112, switch 35 and wire 113 to ground. As soon asthe car has passed the contact maker 19, the de'e'nergizing of magnet L releases the switches of machine No. 3 and allows them to fall back to normal position. The break in the operating line when switch 38 is opened prevents the current flowing to magnets D of machine No. 1 and releasing the switches of this machine, while as the switchesof machine No. 3 are not returned to Ynormal position until the current from thepcontact maker has ceased there is no possibility of current flowing from the contact maker across switch 3S, after the latter has been re-closed to'machine No. 1. SimultaneouslyT current flows through resistance 119, wire 120, magnets M and wire 121 to ground. The energizing of magnets M reverses all the switches of machine No. 4, the opening of switch 41 and 'closing of switch 42 cutting out the clear light 12 and illuminating the danger light 12 while, as in the operation ofthe No. 3 machine just described, the operating line is grounded onboth sides through release magnets N by wires 122 and 123, switches 44 and 45, wires 124 and 125, wire 126 which connects to the magnets midway of their winding, switch 43 and wire 127. As will be noted switches 44 and 45 are in the circuit which ,bridges the operating line across switch 40 through the magnetsV il. These switches remain openv as long as current is flowing through magnets M, but, as will be apparent from the detail description of the No. 4 machines, these switches fall back to normal position as soon as current ceases flowing throughmagnets M, the other switches, 40, 41, 42, and 43, being locked by the device illustrated in Fig. 9.

Then the car reaches the lights 13, 13 the above described operation is repeated. The block may be divided into as many sections as desired,vthe same operation taking place when a car passes from one section to another, the car setting a danger light behind it on the section it is entering and switch 38 energizing magnets N restoring the switchesl clear and the break in the operating line restored at the entrance to the section it is just Ileaving.

W hen the car reaches end B of the block it first closes release contact maker 16', eurrent flowing through resistance O, Wire lO5, of machine No. 3, and wire VO",

of the last machine N o. 4 to normal in the manner above described. As the operating magnets K of machine No. 3 are Wired only to the cutting in contact maker this machine does not operate when a car leaves the block.

Vhen the car reaches contact maker 17 the current travelsalong the operating linev to the release magnets l) of machine No. 1 at end A, the circuit being through resistance 18,wire O5, switch 38', wire U4, switch 40 of the nearest No. 4 machine, wire O3, switch 40 of the other No. 4 machine, wire O2, switch 38 of the N o. 3 machine, wire O and wire OTV through magnets D to ground G at end A. Switches 25 and 26, being released, fall back to normal position, the closing of switch 26 puts the danger bank 7 into the signal circuit again, While the opening of switch 25 opens the circuit through the magnets J of machine N o. 2', along the signal line, and through magnets E of machine No. 1 to ground. The denergizing of magnets E causes switches 27 and 28'to fall back to normal position, cutting out the permissive signal 6.and illuminating the clear signal 5. rlhe denergizing of magnets J allows switches 33 normal position, thus connecting the horizontal bank of lights 7 to the signal vline at end B. Both ends of the signal line being now in feed the lights 7 will cease to glow while the denergizing of magnets H will cause switches 30', 31 and 32 to fall back to normal position. The closing of switch 30 closes the circuit from the vertical bank of lights 5 through wire 86, switch 30', wire 87', switch 27', and vwire 88 to ground and illuminates these lights. The closing of switch 32 restablishes the 'ground circuit from contact maker 15, through Wire 95, magnets C, wire 97', switch 32, and wire 98 to ground. The opening of switch 31 disconnects magnets J from the trolley connection 81. All the various members of the system have thus been restored to normal position or condition. 'i

Should, however, a second car enter the block before the lirst car has left the block, the closing of contact maker at B 4will not operate the release of machine No. 1, -as the current will iiow to ground through the connection which was established, as above pointed out, at the No. 3 or No. 4 machines, according to the position ofthe car. -The reand 34 to fall back to 'iis lease lmagnets of the No. l, No. 3 and No. 4 machines are so Wound that the feeble current flowing through resistance 18 and the magnets of No. 3 or No. a to ground will not be strong enough to energize these latter magnets but will be sufficiently strong to energize the magnets of No. l when a closed circuit is established from end to end of the block. As the arrangement of the systemV is symmetrical .for both ends of the block the operation thereof when a car enters from end B will be readily understood, the contact makers 20 of the No. 4 machines being actuated by a car going from B to A.

As many cars can be in the block as the latter is divided into sections. While c ars going in the same direction can be leaving and entering the block indefinitely, it will be obvious that any number of cars can follow each other through the block, each car protecting itself at the entrance toheach section by a danger signal and establishingan interruption or break in the operating line which prevents all but the last car from returning the system to normal condition when they leave the block, all the breaks being successively made and restored so that when the last car passes from the block the operating line is continuous to permit an operative operating current to flow over the operating line to the machine that restores the block to normal condition.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of our invention designed without departing from the scope thereof we intend that all the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative merely of an operative embodiment of our invention and not in a limiting sense.

VVh-at we claim is:

l. In a block signal system, a signal at the entrance to a block, operating means adapted to cha-nge said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including anV operating line extending from end to end of the block, said operating line forming ,part of' a normally open circuit adapted to be closed by a car leaving the block, and means adapted to be operated by a car in the block to prevent an operative operating current flowing in said operating line.V

2. In a block signal system, a signal at the entrance to a block, operating means adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, said operating line forming part of a normally open circuit adapted to be closed by a car leaving the block, and means adapted to be operated by a car in the block to establish a break in said operating line.

3. In a block signal system a throughblock signal at the entrance to a block, operating means therefor adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block,

spacer signals in the block, means adapted to operate said spacer signals, the operation of said last mentioned means preventing change of said through-block signal by the first mentioned means.

et. In a block signal system, a throughblock signal at the entrance to a block, operating means therefor adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, spacer signals in the block, means adapted to operate said spacer signals, the operation of such means establishing a break in said operating line.

5. In a block signal system, signals at either end of the block, operating means adapted to change the signals at both ends of the block when a car enters or leaves the latter, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, and means adapted to be operated by a car on the block to establish a break in said operating line.

6. In a block signal system through-block signals at each end of the block including a permissive signal at one end and a danger signal at the other end, spacer signals in the block, electrically operated means for controlling said signals, and a vcommon operating wire supplying current to the controlr means of both the through-block and spacer signals.

7 In a'block signal system, through-block signals at each end of the block including a permissive signal at one end anda danger signal at the other end, operating means therefor including an operating line extending froin end to end of the block, spacer signals in the block, electrically operated control means therefor, said control means being connected to the said operating line and adapted to be energized by the current Vfiowing therethrough.

8. In an electrically operated block signal system, a through-block signal at thc entrance to a block, operating means tiiercfor adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, spacer signals dividing the block into sections, control means for said spacer signals, the operation of said control means successively establishing an interruption in said operating line and restoring said operating line to its operative condition as a car passes from one section of the block to another. 1

9. In an electrically operated block signal system, a through-block signal at the entrance to a block, operating means therefor adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, spacer signals dividing the block intosections, control means therefor comprising operating vand release devices adapted when a car enters one section to change the adjacent spacer signal and establish an interruption in said operating line and to restore the operating line to its operative condition and change the signal at the entrance-to the section it is leaving.

10. In an electrically operated block signal system, a through-block signal at the entrance to a block, operating means therefor adapted to change said signal when a car leaves the block, such means including an operating line extending from end to end of the block, spacer signals dividing the block into sections, control means therefor comprising operating and release devices adapted when a car enters one section to change the adjacent spacer signal and establisli an interruption in said operating line and to restore the operating line to its operative condition and change the signal at the entrance to the section it is leaving, the said operating line being wired to the release devices to conduct the energizing current for the latter thereto.

l1; In a block signal system a through block-signal at the entrance to a block, spacer signals in theblock, means for changing said signals from normal condition, locking mechanisms adapted to retain said signals in changed condition, electrically actuated means for releasing the locking mechanisms, and a common operating wire supplyingl current to the releasing devices of both the through-block and spacer signals.

l2. In a block signal system, a throughhlocl: signal at the entrance to a block, spacerA signals in the block, means for changing said signals from normal condition, locking mechanisms adapted to retain said signals in changed condition, electrically actuated means 'for releasing the locking mechanisms, and a common operating wire supplying current to the releasing devicesof vboth the through-block and spacer signals, the operation ot the means for changing the spacer signal from normal condition acting to establish an interruption in the said operating line.

13. In a block signal system, a throughblock signal at the entrance to a block, spacci signals dividing the block into sections, mcans adapted to be actuated by the passing of a car for changing said signals from normal condition, locking' mechanisms adapted to retain said signals in changed condition, electrically operated means for releasing the locking mechanisms, and a common operating Wire supplying current to the releasing devices of both the throughblock and spacer signals, the operation oi the means for changing the spacer signals from normal condition acting to establish an interruption in the operating line and ground the latter through the release device between the section thecar is leaving and the section the car is entering.

l-l. In a block signal system, a plurality of signals at either end of the block, electrical connections including switches th rough which said 4signals are energized, electrically energized lcontrol devices for said switches, a signal line connected to a'source of current, a normally open connection from such signal line through said control devices to ground, and means adapted to be actuated by a car entering the block for closing said' normally open connection, locking means retaining said connection closed, andreleasing means adapted to be actuated by a car leaving the block for permitting such connection to open and the said switches` to return to normal position.

15. In a block signal system, a plurality of signals including a danger signal at either end of the block, electrical connections including switches through which said signals are energized, electrically energized control devices for said switches, a signal line, a normally open circuit wherebycurrent is vconveyed from said signal line through said control devices to ground to energize said control devices, means adapted to he actuated by a car entering one end of the block for closing said normally open connection, the said signal line being connected to the danger signal at the far end of the block to cause the current actuating said control devices to flow thereto through the said danger signal.

16. A block' signal system having throughblock signals consisting of a clear signal, a danger signal and a permissive signal at. either end of the block, spacer signals dividing the block into sections, and means for changing said through-block signals as a car enters or leaves the block and for changing said spacer signals asa car passes from one section of the block to another.

17. In an electrically-operated block signal system, a signal operating device comprising a plurality of switches, electrically energized devices for reversing said switches from normal position, locking means for retaining said switches in reversed position, and electrically energized devices for releasing said locking means, said locking means being adapted to vrelease only after said devices have been energized and become deenergized again.

18. In an electrically-operated block signal system, a signal operating device comprising a plurality of switches, a rock shaft having the bridge pieces of said switches nal system, a signal operating device coin-v prising a plurality of switches, an operating device for ogerating all of said switches, and a locking device adapted to lock less than all of said switches.

20. In a. block signal system, a throughn hlock signal at the entrance to a block, spacer signals dividing the block into sections, means adapted to be actuated by the passing of a car for changing said signals from noi'- mal condition, locking mechanisms adaptedV to retain said signals in changed condition, electrically operated means for releasing the locking mechanisms, the release devices of the through-*block and spacer signals being operative hy currents of varying strength, a common operating Wire supplying current to the releasing devices of both the throughblock and spacer signals, and a resistance in said operating line adapted to vary the strength of the current lio-Wing through the said release means.

2l. In a block signal system, a clear signal, a Vpermissive signal, and a danger signal v at each end of the block, the clear signal heing normally set and the permissive and danger signals normally extinguished, control means or said danger signals adapted to he actuated when a car enters the block, control means for said clear and permissive signals, the operation of said iirst mentioned control means closing an electric circuit through the danger signal at one end of the block and also through the Vlast mentioned control means whereby the latter are operated to reverse the clear and permissive siguals at the other end of the block.

Signed. at Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, this 10th day of November, 1915.

HUBERT l-l. SOUDER. HONELL lV. SOUDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of atents Washington, D. C. 

